Football game indicator



Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

v- UNITED STATES THOMAS S. :HEMPHILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOOTBALL GAME INDICATOR.

Application filed January 2'3, 1926. Serial No. 83,329.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a foot ball game indicator, and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character whereby the progress of a game may be indicated by movements of the foot ball over the field or gridiron.

Another object-0f the invention is to provide an article of manufacture comprising a card having a foot ball field or gridiron delineated thereon, said card being notched at both ends and having strings registering with said notches, one of which has a cardboard reproduction of a foot ball attached thereto, and the other the scale, both of which may be moved over the foot ball field by properly manipulating the strings thru the medium of rings or their equivalent fastened to the strings on the reverse side of the card.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple structure of the character mentioned which will be inexpensive in the cost of manufacture, and usually small so as to be readily. held in-the hands of the operator while being manipulated to indicate the relative movements of the foot ball during the progress of a game, as the several plays become known to the operator.

With the adventof the radio and the present wide use. thereof, there has developed the idea of broadcasting many sporting events which include the broadcasting of foot ball games play by play, and while intQIESt-lllg to the listener-in, he is unable to fully visualize the different plays, therefore I have devised an indicator which may be held in the hands of the listener-in, and the plays reproduced by a miniature representation of a foot ball upon the representation of a foot ball field. As each play is broadcast the listener-in will move the foot ball in the proper direction lengthwise of the field and on eitherside of the longitudinal center thereof as set forth by the broadcaster, thereby making plain the several moves and progress of the game to the listener-in.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter. set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may under stand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1, is an obverse face view of a foot ball game indicator embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is a reverse face view thereof.

Fig. 3, is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 4, is an obverse face View of the foot ball.

Fig. 5, is a reverse face view thereof.

Fig. 6, is an enlarged edge view thereof.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 10 represents a card, and it is to be understood that the use of the term card is to include any flat piece of material suitable for use for this purpose, altho I have found very stifl aper and paste board the most practical. (in the obverse face of this card is printed or otherwise delineated a foot ball field or gridiron which includes transverse lines 12, denoting distances equaling ten yards-all adjacent lines, as well as goal posts 13. The card has notches 14: formed in both ends in the region of the goal posts, and other notches 15 at both ends either within or without the boundaries of the field, but preferably adjacent one side thereof.

A string or equivalent element is passed about the card lengthwise thereof and thru the notches 1 1 with the ends thereof tied to a ring 17 or other equivalent means by which the-string may be moved about the card lengthwise thereof or slipped transversely within the limits of the notches 14. I

Another string 18 is passed about the card lengthwise thereof and thru the notches 15 with its ends tied to a ring 19 by which said string 18 may be moved only longitudinally on the card. It is to be understood that both the rings 17 and 19 are located on the reverse side of the card.

On that portion of the string disposed across the obverse face of the card is moun ed a foot ball 20, while on that portion of the string 18 disposed across the obverse face of the card is mounted a scale 21, said scale being of a length equal to the distance between two of the division lines on the field, and said scale has indication marks 22 thereon, which divide said scale into ten divisions, each representing one yard.

Both the foot ball and the scale are prefcrab-1y made by taking a piece of card board and cuttmg itto the proper size and configuration, and then pasting a label or labels thereon having the indication marks printed or otherwise delineated upon said labels, and in the case of the foot ball, one label may have a V delineated thereon to indicate visitors While the other has an H thereon to indicate the home team, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 respectively.

As shown in Fig. 6, 23 represents the stiffening element which may be of card board or other suitable material, while the labels, one on each side of the stiffening member, are denoted by the numerals 24 and 25, and in actual practice the string may be disposed between the stiffening member and a label.

When a foot ball game is being broadcast, the listener-in may hold the indicator in both hands with the fingers in contact with the rings 17 and 19, and as the several plays are broadcast, the ring 17 may be moved to cause the foot ball 20 to travel in the proper direction over the foot ball field, and therelation of said foot ball to the scale 21 will indicate the number of yards gained and to be gained in order to secure a first down, and by moving said rin 17 transversely of the card so as to plac the ball on either side of the center of the field, it may be readily ascertained on which side of the field the teams are playing. WVhen the visiting team is in possession of the ball, the representation of the foot ball 20 of the indicator may be turned, as shown in Fig. 1, but when the home team is in possession of the ball, the foot ball 20 may be reversed so as to show as in Fig. 5.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without de-. parting from th spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

1. A foot ball game indicator comprising a card having notches at both ends thereof with a foot ball field and goal posts delineated thereon, strings passing about the card thru the notches therein, a foot ball attached to one of said strings and a scale attached to the other of said strings.

2. As an article of manufacture, a foot ball game indicator including a card having a foot ball field and oal posts delineated thereon and further aving notches in both ends in the region of the goal posts, a string passing entirely around the card thru the notches and adapted to be moved lengthwise or transversely of the card from the back thereof, and a foot ball attached to that portion of the string disposed across the front of the card.

3. A foot ball game indicator including an element having a football field and goal posts delineated thereon, and further having two notches in each end thereof, one of the notches in each end being within the confines of the goal posts, a string passing around the card thru the notches at the goal posts, a ring to which the ends of said string are attached at the back of th card element, a foot ball attached to that portion of the strin disposed across the front of the card, an said foot ball having indication marks on opposite faces to represent home and visiting? teams, another string passing around the card and thru the other notch, a ring to which the ends of said strings are attached at th back of the card element and a scale attached to that portion of the string disposed across the front of card element, said scale having division marks delineated thereon.

4. A game indicator comprising a card having features of a foot-ball field delineated thereon, a string passing entirely around the length of said card and movable longitudinally or transversely thereof, and a foot-ball fixed to said string, and movable therewith.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein the foot-ball has indication marks on opposite faces and is reversible by twistthe string.

in n testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

THOMAS S. HEMPHILL. 

